MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY AS A NEW METHOD FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF NUCLEIC-ACIDS/

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-M S) has demonstrated its potential for the accurate and sensitive mass determination of nucleic acid oligomers. In addition ts single compone nts, complex mixtures of oligonucleotides can now also be mass analyse d with high sensitivity and in a very short time. Fast sequencing of o ligonucleotides using MALDI-MS has beers demonstrated directly, via io n fragmentation, and also by the combination of biochemical degradatio n techniques with mass spectrometric mixture analysis (ladder sequenci ng). A short overview of the problems, potentials and limitations in t he MALDI/MS analysis of nucleic acids Is given.